John Priveaux

John Priveaux (1520-) was a French mercenary during the mid-16th century. In 1558, he was hired by Mary, Queen of Scots to relieve the besieged Scottish city of Edinburgh, where Mary's mother Mary of Guise was besieged by the Scottish Protestant Lords of the Congregation.

Biography
John Priveaux was born in France in 1520, and he became known as a mercenary and an effective warrior who was even known by the powerful Francis, Duke of Guise. In 1558, Mary, Queen of Scots hired Priveaux to steal Catherine de Medici's stashed treasure in order to help fund her mother Mary of Guise in her struggle against the Scottish Protestant lords besieging her in Edinburgh. However, he instead kidnapped Catherine and tricked her into paying twice his fee (20,000 francs) to betray the person who hired him. Priveaux had Mary frame Catherine's cousin Hortensa de Medici for the kidnapping, and Priveaux then beheaded Hortensa and delivered her head to Catherine. Mary then took over Hortensa's guards and paid Priveaux to lead them to rescue Mary of Guise in Scotland.